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AUSTIN — San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro opposes a proposal to consolidate governance with Bexar County, and believes the move would negatively affect the city's credit rating, response times for emergency services, and increase spending, according to a letter from Castro dated Thursday.

“While the City of San Antonio supports policies which enhance the efficiency of City and County government, eliminate duplication of services, reduce costs and improve customer service, (Larson's legislation) does not accomplish these goals,” Castro wrote in the note submitted to the House Committee on County Affairs.

The consolidation was proposed in two bills filed by State Rep. Lyle Larson.

In November, he filed a joint resolution that would amend the Texas Constitution to allow city-county mergers and a bill that would allow governance consolidation in Bexar County if voters approve.

The items were set to be heard in the House Committee on County Affairs Thursday but was postponed until next week.

The concept of consolidation has been on Larson's radar since he sat on the City Council in 1994.

“I am convinced that unless we start changing the architecture,” he said, “with all the replication we have in government, we're not efficient. We are wasting a lot of money duplicating services, and in some ways, competing against each other.”

Together, the two governments oversee three law enforcement agencies, two public works departments and four court systems, Larson said.

Castro said the city supports policies that would make government more efficient.

However, among other complaints, the mayor said the bills don't allow for the City Council to decide if consolidation is best, and the majority of those affected live inside city limits.

After the idea was floated in 2001, the city and county formed a commission to evaluate the concept, resulting in the combination of amenities including health services and libraries, Castro said.

Larson proposed consolidation two years ago, but the legislation died in committee and then lacked support from County Judge Nelson Wolff.

Wolff now supports the concept, but it's unclear how Castro's opposition will affect the future of the bills.

“I'd like to see the voters make the call instead of a mayor who's uninformed,” Larson said, “but that might require a change in (city) leadership.”